November 28, 2021; First Sunday of Advent (Year C)

Readings: Jer. 33:14-16; 1 Thess 3:12-4:2; Lk. 21:25-28, 34-36

 

Be Prepared; Be Alert.

1.    I find the gospel reading of this first Sunday of Advent fascinating. Jesus said: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” In a nutshell, we should not allow these signs and cosmic upheaval to distract us from our Lord. We must, therefore, be prepared for Christ and see death as a welcome passage to everlasting life. 

 

2.    There is much happening in the world that is enough to frighten the daylight out of us. There is so much violence, anger, greed, hatred, corruption, and complete disregard for human life. We read and watched with great anxiety, revolutions, insurrections, religious conflicts and persecution, the reckless killing of Christians in different parts of the world that make us wonder if the end of the world is at hand. We watch with anticipation how prices of foodstuff continue to skyrocket, and the pump price of gas is always on the increase, and we wonder if we will have enough to see us through the month with our stagnated income. We worry about our future and that of our children. We often wonder if God is still with us. Three weeks ago, we reflected on the theme that you never live well if you are afraid of death. That is the truth!

 

3.    Let us not forget that the Jews lived through a period not entirely different from our own. They, too, had their share of suffering, pains, persecution, destruction, and intimidation during the Babylonian exile. It was the worst time of their lives. Jeremiah lived through this period, too; he witnessed both the destruction of Jerusalem and the sacred temple, their pride, and the sign of God’s presence for them. He lived through this horrendous period, but his hope in God was so strong that he prophesied that God was still with his people. He reminded them that God “will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days, Judah shall be safe, and Jerusalem shall dwell secure.” As God was with his people in the past, he would indeed protect his people now. Therefore, there is no reason to be afraid. Christians should be alert, hold their heads high and welcome the Lord whenever he comes to take them home. 

 

4.    Advent is a period of waiting anxiously for the coming of the Messiah at his birth. During the four weeks of Advent, we stay in hope and not in fear. For the Lord comes to rule the earth and render justice to those unjustly oppressed. At Advent, the Church also anticipates the second coming of Christ when he comes to judge the world with righteousness. St Peter tells us what to do while we wait. “Therefore, beloved, since you await these things be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.” (2Peter 3:14). Therefore, a Christian must always be prepared to meet the Lord. “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.” (Lk 12:37).

 

5.    The four weeks of Advent are penitential days that should aid us in preparing for the Lord. We are not to worry about material preparation for the birth of Christ, as important as that may be. The Lord comes for our hearts, and he wants to dwell in our souls. Let us be men and women of prayer. You have heard me talk about this almost every Sunday. We cannot profess to be good Christians if we do not have a healthy prayer life. We must be regimental when it comes to praying. Find a suitable time for your daily prayer and work it into your schedule. Do you pray as a family? Does your child find you praying at different times during the day? Have you taught them to pray on their own, apart from praying together? What about the rosary? Do you pray together? Teach them the importance of praying the rosary and make it desirable for them to pray with you or on their own. What about your sacramental life? We should go to confession at least two times a year, if not frequently. Advent and Lent are the best times to purify our hearts through the sacrament of reconciliation.

 

6.    Advent also reminds us to be engaged in sporadic acts of kindness. It reminds us to love one another with sincere Christian love. St. Peter says this about love: “The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and sober for prayers. Above all, let your love for one another be intense because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1Peter 4:7-10). Do not forget to give in charity since Advent anticipates the outpouring of God’s love on humanity. Christ is God’s love for us. We must show the world that we belong to God by the way we love. Spend time and listen to God speak to you through his Word. Read John’s Gospel, a chapter each day of Advent. May God bless and guide us as we begin this new liturgical year of God’s blessings on humanity. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

November 21, 2021; Last Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) - Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

 

Readings: Dan 7:13-14; Rev. 1:5-8; Jn. 18:33-37

 

Testifying To the Truth – For what Do You Live? For What Will You Die?

 

1.    The opening prayer in today’s Mass sets the tone for our liturgy on this solemnity of Christ the King. The Church reminds us that it is the will of God to restore all things in Christ, His beloved Son, the King of the universe. For God intends for all to have a share in his kingdom. God wants the whole creation to be set free from slavery and render Him service and ceaselessly proclaim His praise. In the Preface, we pray, “For you anointed your Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, with the oil of gladness as eternal Priest and King of all creation, so that, by offering Himself on the altar of the Cross as a spotless sacrifice to bring us peace, he might accomplish the mysteries of human redemption and, making all created things subject to his rule, he might present to the immensity of your majesty an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.” Jesus Christ was born for this purpose, to establish the kingdom of God on earth and bring all people, regardless of tribe, race, creed, color, or nationality, to God. His kingdom is for everyone. He was born for this; he testifies to it, lived for it, and was prepared to die for it. Those who listened to him and obeyed his teaching are members of his kingdom, but those who do not will be left out.

 

2.    This was the answer that Christ gave to Pilate in today’s gospel: “You say I am a king. For this, I was born, and for this, I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Christ was put to death because of the truth about his mission, just like John the Baptist was put to death for defending the truth. For John had told Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” (Mk.6:18). Herodias harbored a grudge against him, and not long afterward, Herod beheaded John. John died in defense of the truth. Jesus was always on the side of truth. He cured the sick on the Sabbath; he saved the life of a woman caught in the act of committing adultery by indirectly accusing her accusers, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (Jn. 8:7). He drove away those who were selling and changing money in the temple and said to them, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” (Jn. 2:16). Christ knew that these actions would bring him face to face with the powers that be. But he stood by his actions and was undaunted in the face of death. He was born for this, to bear witness to the truth. 

 

3.    As we celebrate the universal kingship of Jesus today, we call to mind Christ’s sermon on the mount. The Beatitudes describe the quality of sons and daughters of the new kingdom. They are peacemakers, the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. They must love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. They must bear no grudge and seek no revenge. They must share what they have with others and give a helping hand to those in need. (cf. Mt. 5, 6, 7, 18, 25). These men and women are on the side of the truth. They understand Christ when he said, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.” It was not surprising why Pilate asked Christ in verse 38, “What is truth?”

 

4.    In our world today, it is not easy to know whether there is objective or absolute truth or subjective truth. Do we have alternate truth or personal truth? Lies and corruption are common in high places and at times, we are confused about the fact. For what are we living? For what are we prepared to die? Is it worth living a life of honesty and integrity anymore? Can we give our word and keep it? What is the role of a Christian, the follower of Christ, in a confusing world as ours?  Vima Dasan, SJ in ‘His Word Lives’ States, “Sharing in the kingship of Christ is glorious but precarious, for it is demanding. As Christ bore witness to the truth, lived by it, and died for it, we too, by virtue of the gift of truth received in our hearts at baptism, are called to speak only the truth unattended by a bodyguard of lies and of course to spread the truth from pole to pole. Since the truth we have received is not just in our minds but in our hearts, we have not only to speak it but to do it, in justice and love.” Are we prepared to face the consequence of living the truth? It will isolate us and make us stand alone as Christ stood alone before Pilate. It will take away our friends and give us names. Christ warned us, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” (Lk. 12:51). Our identification with Christ and standing for the kingdom principles will cause division in our lives and in our families. 

 

5.    Let us be men and women who, like Christ, live by the truth and are prepared to die for the truth. Let us be men and women of honesty and integrity and pray that we may stand by the kingdom principles. May Christ the universal King welcome us into his kingdom when our pilgrim life on earth comes to an end. Amen. 

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

November 14, 2021; 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Dan 12:1-3; Heb. 10:11-14, 18; Mk. 13:24-32

You Never Lived Well If You are Afraid of Death

1.     At the end of the year, the Church turns our minds towards the end of time, the eschatology. It brings to our minds the four last things – death, judgment, heaven, or hell. Everyone must face three of these realities at the end. But we do not know when the end will come. So, we predict, despite, all odds when we think the end will come. And the fear of our demise sometimes overwhelms us. William Shakespeare captured our fear of death in his drama, Julius Caesar, when he said, “Cowards die many times before their death; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. It seems most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end will come when it will come.” Yet there are others, knowing the end is inevitable sometimes live as if it will never happen to them. The readings of today leave no one in doubt about the inevitability of the end.

2.     The book of Daniel is one of the apocalyptical books of the bible. These books reveal what will happen at the end of time. They were written when the children of Israel were undergoing great persecution, stress, and trauma. The first reading predicted that the Syrians would try to destroy the faith of the Jewish people and persecute and kill those who were faithful to their religion and God. According to Daniel, “It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time.” It will be so severe that Michael, the archangel, will arise to guard the people. Daniel encouraged the people to remain faithful and committed to their faith. Their perseverance will win them the crown of glory. In the end, even those who died will awake to face judgment. The virtuous will live forever and shine like the stars, while the unfaithful will face everlasting horror and disgrace. James stressed this point thus: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance…for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.” (James 1:1,12). The Psalmist called on God to be his inheritance.

3.     Today’s gospel continues from where the first reading left off. It talks about the great tribulations that will affect everything under the sun, including nature and the elements. “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” Though this will be a terrible time that will inflict fear in the hearts of men, it will usher in the Son of man and the final establishment of the kingdom of God. “And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.” The virtuous will reign with Jesus in his glory forever. “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son but only the Father.”

4.     The point stressed in these readings is, we must be prepared for the second coming of Christ. Christ urged us to “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open, immediately when he comes and knocks.” (Lk. 12:35-40). There is no need to be worried or fearful about the end. Indeed, we are always afraid of the unknown. But worrying will do us no good. Only those who did not live well should worry about death and dying. What legacy are we leaving behind? How did your life impact others? Have you left a will for your loved ones? Do you have a durable power of attorney? Did you have an Advance Directive made when last you were sick in the hospital? Do you still talk to members of your family? Or do you find it difficult to forgive them? Is there anyone you cannot forgive? These are good points to ponder when faced with the inevitability of death and dying. Our spiritual life must be in accordance with the teaching of Christ. When did you go to confession last? Do you have an active prayer life? Do you read your bible regularly and pray the rosary daily? Prophet Micah tells us what we must do: “You have been told, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (6:8). Being a Christian is not what we say but what we do. We must learn to love and forgive all, even our enemies.

5.     St Paul tells us, “None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.” (Rm. 14:7). It means that our lives have a bearing on others. We must think actively about those in our society that we must assist. Remember, at the end of time, we will be judged on love, how we were available to others in their needs. These are the people who will lead us to the Son of man when he appears in his glory. Then He will admit us into the kingdom prepared for us since the foundation of the world. May it be so now and always. Amen. 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

November 07, 2021: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Heb. 9:24-28; Mk. 12:38-44

Juliana On Halloween Night – The Widow’s Mite

1.     Juliana went tricking-or-treating with her mother, moving from house to house. At one stop, the lady of the house came out to offer Juliana a treat. Juliana saw a special candy she liked and asked if she could have more of it. The woman said 'No' she could only take one and no more. On hearing this, Juliana returned the one candy previously taken and did something more. She dug deep into her candy bag and scooped two handfuls of the candy she received and dropped them into the woman's candy jar, and said, 'here, have some more candy so that you may have enough to offer other children when they come knocking at your door. Don't worry about me; I have more candy at home.' Juliana, a six-year-old, taught the lady a lesson on giving. Remember the theme of our reflection last week? It is better to be a homily in action than preach one. Here is another example of actions speaking louder than words.

2.     We often hear people talk about giving their widow's mite to mean giving all they have for a cause. Though they refer to widow's mite, it doesn't always mean the givers are widows. Jesus distinguished two sets of people in today's gospel. The scribes who have it all and the widow who had nothing. They have positions, recognition, authority, prestige, and money. They "go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers." They abdicated their roles as shepherds for the positions of corrupt and oppressive leaders. Those who contributed to the treasury were rich people. They put in a large sum of money while making a big show of it. The widow, on the other hand, had nothing and no one to rely on but God. She almost got lost in the crowd. They may have seen her as an embarrassment to the rich people who were in the synagogue. But the widow knew why she was there. She was there to worship God and give God all she had - her heart, her love, and her all. No one would stop or drive her away from God's house. She believed that God would reward her. She gave sacrificially to the one who gave all to her. Not giving was not an option. She may have thought that no one would notice her gift or that her two small coins would be an insignificant donation. However, Jesus Christ saw and pointed it out to the apostles: "This poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

3.     This reminds me of a story about the hen and the pig.  A hen and a pig were walking down the road. Passing a church, they noticed that a potluck charity breakfast was on the way. Caught up in the spirit, the pig suggested to the hen that they each make contributions. "Great idea!" the hen cried. "Let's offer them ham and eggs!" "Not so fast," said the pig. "For you, that's just a contribution, but for me, it's a total commitment." This story demonstrates the total commitment of the poor widow in both the first and the gospel reading of today. Her giving, like that of the pig, was absolute. She gave everything she had. She is a sacrificial giver.

4.     There are four types of givers. (a) Sporadic givers: These give, now and then, at irregular intervals. They may give once a month or whenever they remember and so give a dollar today or two in three months or so. Giving is not part of their life. (b) Spontaneous givers: These give without premeditation. They don't plan their giving. But since there is some money with them, they may throw it in. At times they give because the pastor appealed for a particular need, so they give to support it. They hate to give and certainly, do not like being asked to do so, either of their time, talent, or treasure. Spontaneous givers give grudgingly and with resentment. (c) Duty givers: They give because they feel an inner compulsion to do so. They also give reluctantly but with a sense of obligation. Their giving is not love-driven or with a sense of appreciation to God, who is the giver of all.

5.     The Sacrificial givers: Sacrificial giving is a scriptural principle put in place by God himself. God revealed himself to believers as a sacrificial giver. God gave us his only Begotten Son so that He could bring the whole world to himself. Sacrificial givers give with thanksgiving in their hearts. They plan their giving and give regularly: they receive their envelopes or give online. They give because they know that all they have and are come from God. They give back to him with thanksgiving in their hearts. Their giving is not just monetary but also time and talents. To sacrificial givers, "The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry." (First reading). The God who sees their hearts will open for them the floodgates of heaven and pour down blessings upon them without measure. For their sake, God will forbid the locust to destroy their crop, and the vine in their field will not be barren. (Malachi 3:11). To this group belongs the widows in today's readings and Juliana in the story above. The pig takes its rightful place among sacrificial givers, making a total commitment by dying so that those who attend the charity potluck may enjoy a healthy breakfast. Jesus Christ sacrificed his life, making a total commitment so that we may have eternal life.

6.     Today's readings call us to reflect on the type of givers we are. They make us think of how we support the many just causes, be it our church or the many charities that stay us in the face every day. How do we give? As a hen, the rich people, a pig, the widows, or Jesus Christ who died so that we may have life eternal? Let us pray that we may give of our hearts in love to God. May we learn to share our time, talent, and treasure with God and our brothers and sisters in appreciation of God's love for us. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP